The Collection- Bucky Barnes

All Good Men- ii

By the pricking of my thumbs, something wicked this way comes.

The sign is colorful in the spirit of Halloween. Black background, dark orange words. The image of glinting yellow eyes against the dark backdrop. The shadow of a tree. It's just a sign, but it does in fact prick his thumbs.

"Here! Found you a costume!" Nat thrusts the articles of clothing against his chest. "It's perfect for you!"

Bucky eyes the pieces of the supposed costume. It's a jumbled mess of a pleather jacket, plain white tee, and an assortment of hair products.

"A mechanic?" He raises an eyebrow.

Next to her, Sam rolls his eyes. "Danny. From Grease."

Immediately, Bucky puts the costume back in her hands. He's seen the movie. Not a fan. Definitely doesn't want to dress up as that asshat. And really, he doesn't want to dress up at all. He's not the biggest fan of Halloween and would much prefer to stay in and...well, do anything other than what they have planned.

"No way. Not happening." He shakes his head.

Nat grumbles something unintelligible. Sam promptly takes the costume and shoves it back into Bucky's hands. "You're going, old man. It's just one night. Besides," there's a devilish glint in his gaze, "we're going to Ramano's for karaoke. You just might see your girlfriend again."

If only.

Nora. Her name was Nora and he had known her for maybe all of five minutes. Five glorious minutes he's spent every day of the past two weeks reliving. The thought of her infects his brain like a disease, one he can't shake. One he doesn't want to shake.

"Girlfriend?" Nat perks up. "Since when?"

Bucky shoots Sam a deadly glare. Nat's been trying for years to set him up. To no avail. He's had his fair share of hookups and a few strings of unattached...relationships. But he's never been in the mood for someone serious.

"She's not my girlfriend." Bucky says pointedly to the both of them. "We talked for maybe five minutes and I don't even know her last name."

And from what he gathered during that encounter, she probably wasn't the girlfriend type. Which is great for him.

"Maybe you'll see her again tomorrow and get more than her last name." Nat grins with an overdone wink.

He really hates Halloween.

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Halloween excluded, Nora hates holidays. Each one makes her mouth sour and her shriveled up black heart go cold. Not that it isn't already frozen, but, you know. But Halloween...oh, there's something extra special about it.

It's golden primetime hunting grounds. And free candy.

She eyes herself in the mirror of the bar bathroom, adjusting the little plastic horns on top of her head. It's the same costume every year. A cheap, but no doubt hotter rendition of the man himself. She always forgoes the stick-on tail and the pitchfork. Neither of those are true to fact. The horns, however, those grew over time. Black, not red. Tips sharp enough to impale through skin.

She swipes the pad of her finger against the underside of her bottom lip, perfecting the deep red lipstick. The red leather pants are, as always, surprisingly comfortable. Tight and fitted at the top and to her knees, where they flare out into bell-bottom style. Paired with the red see-through lace bustier top and a red shag jacket, she looks good enough to eat. What really makes the outfit, for her anyway, are the black stilettos with the diamond encrusted snake wrapped around the heels.